WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers

WhatsApp is introducing optional parental controls for teenagers, giving parents the ability to decide privacy settings for their child’s account, the BBC reported on 30 September 2026 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm986x65we88o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss).

For the first time, parents can help decide settings such as who can see their teen’s profile photo or who can add them to groups. If a teen wants to relax those settings, they will need parental approval via a PIN (https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/technology/whatsapp-announces-new-parental-controls-for-teens-as-online-risks-surge/).

Parents can also choose to receive notifications when their teen joins or leaves a group, or when a group grows significantly. The controls extend to Meta AI, Channels and Status — families can pick between the default 13+ AI setting and a stricter “Limited Content” option (https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/technology/whatsapp-announces-new-parental-controls-for-teens-as-online-risks-surge/).

WhatsApp stressed the tools are optional and adjustable: parents can switch them off at any time, and a single PIN keeps management straightforward. “All of these controls are designed to support open conversations about WhatsApp between parents and teens, not to monitor their chats,” the company said, adding that teens’ personal messages and calls stay private and protected by end-to-end encryption (https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/technology/whatsapp-announces-new-parental-controls-for-teens-as-online-risks-surge/).

Sources

• BBC Technology, “WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagers” — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm986x65we88o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
• The Citizen, “WhatsApp announces new parental controls for teens as online risks surge” — https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/technology/whatsapp-announces-new-parental-controls-for-teens-as-online-risks-surge/